Hundreds filled the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Ballroom to witness the Black Business Association (BBA), the oldest ethnic business organization in the State of California, commemorated Black Music Month to recognize two nationally-renowned African American entertainment icons: music executive and film producer Clarence Avant, and radio pioneer Lee Bailey at the Salute to Black Music Awards Gala.

This year’s theme was “The Business Behind the Music;” Ms. Ethiopia Habtemariam, President, Motown Records & Urban Music-UMPG, Inc., served as the Awards Dinner Chairperson, and the illustrious Mr. Quincy Jones was the Honorary Awards Dinner Chairman, for his close and longtime friend, Clarence.

The ballroom was filled with Black entrepreneurs and executives in every business sector. Danny Bakewell, Sr., owner of The Bakewell Company owner the Los Angeles Sentinel and co-founder of the National Black United Fund, gave a riveting speech about how Black Businesses must support each other. Also in attendance were Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO BET Network, Honorary Gwen Moore, GeM Communications, Jon Platt, CEO/Chairman Warner Chappell Music, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Chairman of the Board Supervisor, Second District, Nicole Avant Sarandos (Former US Ambassador to the Bahamas), Ted Sarandos (COO, Netflix), Jerry Moss (Co-founder A&M Records), just to name a few. Grammy Award Winner/Songwriter & Producer BeBe Winans and young vocalist Zipporah Robinson both sang the perfect songs for this special occasion.

“Clarence Avant and Lee Bailey are two highly influential executives in the music andentertainment industries,” said BBA President and CEO Earl “Skip” Cooper II. “They each are single-handedly responsible for opening doors and making the way for today’sblack music genres. It is the BBA’s honor to acknowledge and highlight their contributions to disseminating African American culture around the world.”

About Clarence Avant

Clarence Avant is known as the “Godfather of Black Music” for his deal-making acumen and business savvy. In addition to managing artists like Blues legend Little Willie John, jazz producer Creed Taylor and composer Lalo Schifrin, he launched two record companies, Sussex and Tabu, which cultivated the careers of Bill Withers, Dennis Coffey, and the S.O.S. Band. As a businessman, Avant worked with Al Bell to finalize a deal to sell Stax Records to Gulf & Western Industries for $4.3 million, a record-setting amount in the late 1960s.

Over the span of six decades, Avant has diligently and steadily built a storied career, including promoting Michael Jackson’s first solo tour and serving as chairman of Motown Records. Along the way, he has mentored such music producers as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and LaFace Records’ L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Avant has been honored with numerous awards including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.

About Lee Bailey

Legendary broadcaster Lee Bailey launched Bailey Broadcasting Services out of his garage in 1979. This was the humble beginning of the iconic on-air magazine, RadioScope, which lasted for two decades. The show was a forerunner in syndicated urban radio programming, setting the stage for an entire genre of syndicated radio programming. An early adopter of technology, Bailey launched Electronic Urban Report, EURweb.com, in 1996. Since its inception, EURweb has become one of the premier urban entertainment and headline news sites on the web, with more than two million unique visitors per week.

During the course of his career, Bailey has interviewed music industry superstars rangingfrom Michael Jackson to Chaka Khan to Don Cornelius. Billboard magazine honored himas the “Best Syndicated Urban Radio Program” and he received the “Men of Courage”award from The Carnation Company.

On several occasions since 1980, the BBA has paid tribute to music industry legends. Among the past honorees are Berry Gordy Jr., Smokey Robinson, Jheryl Busby and JanetJackson to name a few.

For more information on BBA’s Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner in recognition of Black Music Month, visit www.BBALA.org

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About the Author

New York Trend is a weekly news publication that focuses on issues and lifestyles of the African & Caribbean American communities throughout the New York metropolitan area and Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island. It is a respected and well recognized news publication that has been in existence since 1989. Owner, Publisher and Executive Director, Dr. Teresa Taylor Williams has been at the helm of this award-winning publication since its inception. New York Trend continues to be the only black woman-owned, metropolitan newspaper in New York and Long island. New York Trend is the largest black-owned newspaper throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.